First, I'd like to say that I have been lurking around this forum for a while as a non-member - primarily admiring all of the garage builds. I recently started paging through the tool section and, after some searching, I decided to join.
This might be long first post by myself but I am in need of some advice concerning my SK sockets that I have acquired over the past few years. To be upfront, I am your average shade-tree mechanic on the weekend. I enjoy working on my own vehicles (as many of us do) and when I started buying tools, I was looking to start my collection by buying premium tools for myself. My logic was that I wanted nicer tools than Craftsman offered, but less expensive than Snap-On.
Anyhow, I'll admit that I do really like my SK tools. They have held up great for what I do and always get the job done. After this past weekend preforming a strut job on my brother's Mazda, I landed up twisting my 1/2" to 3/8" adapter and went to Google to search for warranty information. It was in my search that I came across this forum again and read about SK quality control going down hill before the transition and restructuring process that occurred.
Following the reading of multiple threads, I decided to go out and inspect my sockets more closely than I ever had before and landed up having multiple concerns with my socket sets. My questions are primarily all about the finish of my sockets as I have so many differences between them. It might sound weird, but I never inspected my tools when I bought them. They arrived in plastic, I unwrapped and placed in my box. I truly never thought those tools would need to be inspected this closely.
Overall, the questions I have are: "What is a normal and what is not?", "What is covered under warranty and what is not?"
I know this sounds like something the company would best answer, but when I called SK, the best answer I received was 'Send them up and we will inspect them...' That's fine except knowing there is a 4-6 week turn around time doesn't thrill me. On top of this, I don't know of any SK dealers in the St. Louis and surrounding areas where I could go an exchange my sockets and/or compare to other make SK sockets.
Without any more to add, here are some pictures with descriptions and if anyone could give me some insight as to if my finishes are normal or in need to replacement under warranty, I would appreciate it greatly.
Concern 1: Lack of chrome finish where head of bolt makes contact with socket. My other smaller sockets are all finished with chrome in this area. Are larger sockets different in their finishing?
Concern 2: Internal finish of socket. Normal to be this rough?
Concern 3: Internal scratch (from factory) and the lack of chrome in the spot near the tip of the socket. It's like the chrome never adhered...
Concern 4: Comparison of non-chromed internally vs. chromed finish where socket was broached (I think that's the term used...). The two sockets on left have the lack of chrome...
Concern 5: Cracks where the head of a bolt makes contact with socket. The 'lip' or 'edge' of my smaller sockets have these cracks and I think it's a manufacturing defect. Not sure though...
Concern 6: 'Wavy' or 'ruffles' in the chrome where socket was broached or stamped. The finish is a rough texture and my concern is the chrome flaking off the socket in the long run. Look at the third socket on right, 3 o'clock position. I have a few sockets like this...
Concern 7: Rust. I'm pretty sure this is a lack of finish and this socket has never been used nor subjected to the elements to cause this. It has sat in my box since purchasing. I'm also sure it's under warranty to be replaced, but I thought I'd share.
Concern 8: This socket's finish looks to be pretty darn good compared to the others. Is this a normal and proper SK finish?
Again, thanks for any help or advice given. Just needing a little direction before I send my sockets off to a company and having to wait while they determine defects or not. I will say, in summary, that SK has been pretty good on the phone when I have called and their representative that I have talked to has been real helpful. I know, ultimately, they have to see the tool to determine if it's right or not, but I'd like to have some other opinions before proceeding.
Tom
This might be long first post by myself but I am in need of some advice concerning my SK sockets that I have acquired over the past few years. To be upfront, I am your average shade-tree mechanic on the weekend. I enjoy working on my own vehicles (as many of us do) and when I started buying tools, I was looking to start my collection by buying premium tools for myself. My logic was that I wanted nicer tools than Craftsman offered, but less expensive than Snap-On.
Anyhow, I'll admit that I do really like my SK tools. They have held up great for what I do and always get the job done. After this past weekend preforming a strut job on my brother's Mazda, I landed up twisting my 1/2" to 3/8" adapter and went to Google to search for warranty information. It was in my search that I came across this forum again and read about SK quality control going down hill before the transition and restructuring process that occurred.
Following the reading of multiple threads, I decided to go out and inspect my sockets more closely than I ever had before and landed up having multiple concerns with my socket sets. My questions are primarily all about the finish of my sockets as I have so many differences between them. It might sound weird, but I never inspected my tools when I bought them. They arrived in plastic, I unwrapped and placed in my box. I truly never thought those tools would need to be inspected this closely.
Overall, the questions I have are: "What is a normal and what is not?", "What is covered under warranty and what is not?"
I know this sounds like something the company would best answer, but when I called SK, the best answer I received was 'Send them up and we will inspect them...' That's fine except knowing there is a 4-6 week turn around time doesn't thrill me. On top of this, I don't know of any SK dealers in the St. Louis and surrounding areas where I could go an exchange my sockets and/or compare to other make SK sockets.
Without any more to add, here are some pictures with descriptions and if anyone could give me some insight as to if my finishes are normal or in need to replacement under warranty, I would appreciate it greatly.
Concern 1: Lack of chrome finish where head of bolt makes contact with socket. My other smaller sockets are all finished with chrome in this area. Are larger sockets different in their finishing?
Concern 2: Internal finish of socket. Normal to be this rough?
Concern 3: Internal scratch (from factory) and the lack of chrome in the spot near the tip of the socket. It's like the chrome never adhered...
Concern 4: Comparison of non-chromed internally vs. chromed finish where socket was broached (I think that's the term used...). The two sockets on left have the lack of chrome...
Concern 5: Cracks where the head of a bolt makes contact with socket. The 'lip' or 'edge' of my smaller sockets have these cracks and I think it's a manufacturing defect. Not sure though...
Concern 6: 'Wavy' or 'ruffles' in the chrome where socket was broached or stamped. The finish is a rough texture and my concern is the chrome flaking off the socket in the long run. Look at the third socket on right, 3 o'clock position. I have a few sockets like this...
Concern 7: Rust. I'm pretty sure this is a lack of finish and this socket has never been used nor subjected to the elements to cause this. It has sat in my box since purchasing. I'm also sure it's under warranty to be replaced, but I thought I'd share.
Concern 8: This socket's finish looks to be pretty darn good compared to the others. Is this a normal and proper SK finish?
Again, thanks for any help or advice given. Just needing a little direction before I send my sockets off to a company and having to wait while they determine defects or not. I will say, in summary, that SK has been pretty good on the phone when I have called and their representative that I have talked to has been real helpful. I know, ultimately, they have to see the tool to determine if it's right or not, but I'd like to have some other opinions before proceeding.
Tom
